The first planned docking with Tiangong 1 is scheduled for early November. It will be unmanned and will last about two weeks. If all goes well with the initial tests and docking flights, two additional unmanned flights are planned for 2012.

After those tests, China plans to launch a manned crew, which may include a female astronaut.

Plans are to leave Tiangong 1 in orbit for two years and then to destroy it by instructing it to burn up in Earth's atmosphere.

In the meantime, we have some Tiangong 1 passes to watch for. The first occurs Wednesday at 6:42 a.m.

Gaze toward the south-southwest for a moving stellar point of light skimming just above the horizon. Tiangong 1 will continue its trek across the morning sky and fly below the bright star Sirius at 6:44 a.m.

You'll notice the moon sits not quite overhead at this hour as the satellite glides slowly toward the east.

Mars will be a dim speck of orange light left of the moon.

Tiangong 1 will fade from sight at 6:47 a.m. in the east just past Leo.